Pakistan are all set to play a two-match ODI series against Scotland this week, and after they will be staying in Ireland to play two ODIs against the Irish side before leaving for England. Ireland have announced their team for the series.

[caption id="attachment_930" align="alignright" width="229"] John Mooney is facing a one-match ban for posting an insensitive tweet about the death of former British prime minister Margaret Thatcher and would not play the first ODI (Photo: Cricket Ireland)[/caption]

Pakistan have always been generous with minnows. They stayed in Ireland for a two-match ODI series two years ago on their way back to home from West Indies tour. Now a month before the biggest tournament of the year, Pakistan will again be seen in action against the Irish side.

Ireland coach and former West Indies player Phil Simmons has relied on the same players who helped their side win both World Cup qualifiers in the UAE.

Both matches will be held in Clontarf, Dublin on May 23 and 26, and Simmons is expecting a better performance from his players. He said familiar conditions will raise the Ireland’s chances of victory and added that the team would try to put Pakistan under pressure from the outset. The coach said Ireland’s performance had been satisfactory for the past few years, especially against England and Australia, where they lost matches which they should have won. In the presence of home crowd and familiar conditions in Clontarf, the team are more hopeful, he added.

Terming Pakistan as a strong team, Simmons said playing against Pakistan is a big challenge, but added that it is the challenge the team crave for to improve their performance.

Irish all-rounder John Mooney is facing a one-match ban so he would not play the first ODI. He was banned for posting an insensitive tweet about the death of former British prime minister Margaret Thatcher.